What A Waste

[Ixzo]

83rd of Autum, 515AV
10th Bell, Night
Sea of Grass

Night was falling again, and instead of retiring to her tiny camp, Ixzo decided she needed to leave. She missed the hunt, and even though she had put on a little bit of weight with the human food, the thought of fresh meat would keep her up. She was never going to adjust to a daylight schedule if she kept this up.

By the time the lioness had made it out past the dying fires of Endrykas, plunging into the comfort of the wild night, she was already on alert. When she was on her own, she scavenged just as much as she hunted, but she knew she could afford to be picky tonight. Two sweet potatoes and a small sack of mullet awaited her in her tent. It wasn't much, based on what she could afford, but it was enough for her to know that she didn't need to pick on a coyote today. Today she could pick up something fresh, even if it was a small vole or a raccoon.

Using her nose, Ixzo followed the fresh scent of water, attempting to make her way back to her favorite stream. It was the only one for miles, beside the waterways that the city used, and so it attracted a lot of prey. They either risked nearing civilization, or took their chance with nature's predators. Tonight she was Caiyha's child.

Even though the weather had been recently pleasant, Ixzo flattened her ears when the chilly wind picked up. Even with the extra undercoat in preparation for the colder moons, Ixzo was always much warmer with her fur than without it, so the night lion didn't mind, continuing on until she reached the bank. But this time, instead of making her presence known on the sand, Ixzo chose to be more careful. Before Ixzo could properly start to search for prey, the wind picked up once more, bringing with it the tasty scent of buffalo.

Immediately, reacting with her instincts, the black cat fell into a crouch. Wide silver eyes searched the dark for the source, and even though the scent was faint, she found the herd. Buffalo, a lot of them. Easily half a mile out from the stream, they were herded together and settling in for the night. Trying to stay quiet, but still moving quickly, in case the wind no longer blew in her favor, the lioness stalked towards the buffalo. As she got closer, she slowed, watching the herd.

[Ixzo]

Many of the animals were asleep, tight together with their heads down. But every once in a while a male, or more rarely a cow, would raise their head, search the surroundings and then meander over to a warmer section of the herd. Zulrav still favored her as she got even closer.

Now, Ixzo slowed much further down, paying more attention to her stealth. The closest bull wasn't more than fifteen feet away, and if she had an arrow, she would have taken him down. But tonight she relied on her own claws, and a surge of confidence brought her forwards. The ear twitched on the bull, and Ixzo took a quick step forward, prepared to spring early in case the need arose, but the adult male bull didn't raise his head.

Ixzo allowed herself a few more ticks, watching the animals around him. She had never hunted a plains buffalo before. She had encountered a jungle type, but had her arrow at the time to aide her. And never has she attacked a herd. Keeping her body low, Ixzo lulled her eyes to prevent reflection as she refocused on the bull. Two more feet forward and the bull raised his head, disturbed by noise.

Ixzo wasted no time. Good at kicking off, she was at the bull just as he was turning around to run. The rest of the herd was still reacting as well. Those closest to her were already off, and those furthest were rising out of their slumber, surprised by the sudden emergency. But the predator didn't care, her focus was on the animal closest to her.

Pushing off from the ground with all her strength, she propelled herself into the air. But the lioness did not jump high. She would not make the mistake with the boar, so she aimed low. Claws extended, she reached the bull's neck in an instant, clamping down. His companions were gone by now, and the bull struggled for a moment. To her luck, or perhaps enough hunts of practice, she felt his breathe constrict beneath her jaws. Hooking one paw around his neck, she tried to hold on, steadying herself with her hind quarters. She needed just a few chimes to properly suffocate him, but her ears told her something different.

[Ixzo]

The hoof beats which were previously running from her were now returning, not nearly as many as before it must've only been one or two of the herd. And they would have only returned if their herd-mate had a fighting chance.

Attempting to take control, she pressed into her paws, trying to drag the bull's body in between her and the two other buffalo, but it didn't work. They were circling her now, and Ixzo's heart leaped when she felt the nick of something sharp on her ribs. It wasn't nearly strong or close enough to cause harm, but she knew precisely which weapon this was. Quickly readjusting he bite, she clamped onto the jugular, thinking the thing would have to bleed out without her.

Once the blood was released, pumping quick into the air and intoxicating her senses, she released the bull, whipping around to face the two that confronted her. But before she could properly gather her bearings, the horns came forward. This time the nick had more punch to it and Ixzo leaped back, keeping the horn form impaling her shoulder, however that didn't stop the sting of broken skin.

Now that she was confronting them the bulls hung back hesitating and Ixzo took it as her chance to lash out. She didn't hope to hunt to, merely to keep her own prey. She let loose a roar, slashing forward with her claws and bearing her teeth. Immediately both bulls turned away and her claws caught on the rear end of one. They didn't do much to slow him down, but instinct forced her to pursue the creature. Only a few feet on his tail landed her between a good plenty buffalo that had turned around as well.

[Ixzo]

She didn't have time to think about what situation she could have gotten herself into, instead, Ixzo sprinted to the side. She couldn’t' make it back to her prey, who was already surrounded by two grunting bulls, but Ixzo booked it towards a tree. With the habit that a lion shouldn't have, she launched herself into the branches of the lone plain's tree. Claws dug into the bark, and she roughly scraped her way up, watching the only bull that pursued her this far circle the trunk. Within a tick he had turned back towards his herd.

Frustration consumed her as she saw her prey on the ground. The single boar that followed her was followed by another and Ixzo prepared her launch as carefully as she could, balancing on the branch of the tree. Once they got close, she leaped down, landing on the hid-quarters of the smallest buffalo, a female. She immediately bucked, but didn't throw Ixzo off and the lion clamped down on the cow's neck, although the back of the neck would do little to quicken the kill. When the cow ran back towards the angry herd however, Ixzo let go. She dropped to the ground, rolling for only a tick before springing back up to swipe at the bull that still bothered her.

Ixzo no longer cared for the prey she had killed, instead she needed to get out of the herd as quickly as possible. She was no match for a herd of the buffalo. Thinking quick, she sprinted backwards. Her stamina was not her strong point and Ixzo only made it forty feet before she was forced to slow and gather her breathe. Panting, Ixzo warily turned back to look at the herd, not surprised to find them circling their lost brother now.

She roared once more, which scared the buffalo nearest her into jumping back. Curious, Ixzo turned fully back towards the heard. She was still panting and had to take a tick, but she let out a growl, not wanting to use the deafening roar unless necessary. Two buffalo spooked this time. She wanted to think she had a chance, but decided it wasn't worth it. She didn't know what made her hunt them in the first place, since she would simply never be able to carry back a literal ton of buffalo to sell.

[Ixzo]

It was a wasted effort, and Ixzo was suddenly angry at herself for pursuing it. Angry with herself, she turned back towards the waterway. But before she took a step, she saw nothing but rock breaking through the grass, which was most definitely not her waterway. Worried, Ixzo looked up at the stars, eyeing the sliver of Leth that lit the sky. The moon was already sinking into the east, which told her which direction she was to go. If she continued on she would head north, when she really needed to head west.

Ixzo took a step in the direction she was supposed to go, but her paw faltered beneath her. Shocked, Ixzo gingerly lifted her right paw from the ground. A sting of pain pulled a hiss out from her and she reached over to run her tongue across her shoulder to check for injury. Quick enough her rough tongue ran across the considerable gauge, and she tasted the fresh blood that the wound opened.

Favoring her left side, Ixzo continued forward. If she was human, she would cringe at the pain, but Ixzo didn't have the luxury of an expression to relieve the stress. Instead the lion limped back towards the city.

By the time she was insight of the city, despite her slow tread, the sun was rising once more. She had spent all night out again, and this was doing nothing to help her assimilate to human times. Immediately, once she was insight of the city, Ixzo pulled her human form forward. For the thirty ticks it took to change her physical shell, the lioness basked in the numb, senseless world it provided. Yet as soon as she was on her two bare feet, the pain returned. A throbbing in her shoulder forced Ixzo to swiped her hair out of the way and look at the gauge that followed down her shoulder blade. Feeling vain, she smiled in small relieve to see that the wound didn't interrupt her scar pattern on her back. Only after the vain observation did she notice that the gauge was not particularly deep. Her muscle shone with blood under her skin, but even with the very thin layer between flesh and bone, there was no hint of a deeper wound.

[Ixzo]

Which was probably why it hurt so damn much. She didn't have to limp now, but Ixzo didn't particularly like the walk home. She only stopped by her tent for a second, cringing as she dipped her raggy shift into the bucket of water she kept for drinking, Ixzo dabbed the wound. Immediately she had to bite her lip from crying out, bringing the shift back to look at the blood that quickly spread over the white linen. Gulping down the lump in her through, Ixzo dipped it again, reaching back to pat her shoulder once more. The cool water stuck on her wound and Ixzo couldn't help but allow the tear to slip out. Salty water ran down her nose, invading her mouth. And Ixzo surrendered to the pain, and stopped cleaning her wound.

Myri's children don't cry. Myri's children don't cry. She chanted in her head, reaching up with her free hand to swipe the tear from the crease of her nose. Licking her lips, Ixzo snatched her breast wrap and vest. It wasn't the warmest clothes but it was all she had. Yet Ixzo didn't put them on, wrapping her dwindling coin purse in her breast wrap she bundled the clothes together, gingerly tucking them under her arm. Adjusting her hair out from the proximity of the wound once more, Ixzo rose to her knees. The pain in her cheek as she gnawed down on it didn't compare to the wound that was now demanding all her attention, but Ixzo forced herself to take a few breathes before she stood and left her tent.

She had been stupid, and now she had to waste more resources to keep from paying too dearly for her mistake. The last thing she needed, after just getting over a cold, was an infection and a painful wound.

[Tribal]

G R A D E S

Ixzo

Experience

• Tracking: 1
• Planning: 2
• Observation: 4
• Hunting: 3
• Camouflage: 1
• Stealth: 2
• Intelligence: 1
• Running: 2
• Bodybuilding: 2
• Intimidation: 2
• Endurance: 3
• Wrestling: 1
• Climbing: 1
• Wilderness Survival, Plains: 2
• Logic: 1
• Land Navigation: 1
• Astronomy: 1
• Medicine: 1
• Philosophy: 1

Lore

• Tracking: Basics of how to avoid leaving tracks
• Stealth: Moving with the wind
• Stealth: Lower eyes to avoid detection via reflection
• Buffalo: Don't turn your back on the herd
• Fauna: Herd animals work together to overpower predators
• Intimidation: Bared teeth and a mighty roar
• Land Navigation: Using the stars
• Astronomy: Moon and stars
• Medicine: Assessing the seriousness of a wound
• Medicine: Using salt water to clean a wound
• Philosophy: Myri's children don't cry

Penalties

-Untreated the wound may leave a faint scar
-The wound will heal fully within 15 days if kept clean

Notes

Biting off more than you can chew, kitty. Tisk, tisk. Another fun read! Enjoy the rewards!